MANORIAL ACCOUNT OF GETEY RAA-JU AND AP NAAP

Getay  Raa-ju's manor at Gasey Thokha.

Until officially enfranchised by the third Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in 1953, serfdom had spread all over Bhutan. The late King broke down large landed estates, and in 1958, settled landless populations by granting land kidu. 

Many moons before Bhutan became monarchy, the system of servitude inflicted cruelties and prejudices onto serfs by landlords both physically and emotionally. As a result, there used to be freedom struggles often resulting in deaths. 

One such incident occurred in Gaselo. A powerful landlord by the name of Getay Raa-ju, his family and cronies had been abusing Ap Naap and his family by manhandling them and they would often rob him off their rights to independent living.

One fateful day, an ox belonging to Ap Naap died from a fall off. Since his pregnant wife was delivering anytime soon, he dried up the meats for her diet (སྨན་ཤ). A few days later, Getey Raa-ju happened to inspect Ap Naap's house and saw a lot of meat drying up in his house. Moment he saw the dried meat hanging from the ceiling, that shot up his anger. He asked why it was not reported to him. Ap Naap, with respect, responded that the ox belonged to his own family. However, by force, Raa-ju began to collect all of it from the ceiling. 

Ap Naap's house in Gasey Khamina. 

In order to avoid bloody conflict, Ap Naap was okay to deliver those meats even though it rightfully belonged to him. He had no rights over livestock as much as he had over lands. He rather genuinely pleaded to his master to leave some for his wife who was delivering anytime soon. Upon hearing the plea, Getay Raa-ju got even more insane and began to charge him physically. Naap tried to run away from him but he kept chasing with his patag drawn. Nowhere to run, Ap Naap, in self-defence, lifted a whetstone (dhardho) and hit Getay Raa-ju on the head. He died on the spot outright. 

Fearing that the late master's family and his cronies would avenge, Naap's pregnant wife quickly packed-up his things and asked him to escape Gaselo. Ap Naap had been chased down but he was fast enough to reach Wangdue Dzong and submitted to Dzongpon. Fully aware of late Getay Raa-ju's criminal records, the kind Dzongpon decided to send Ap Naap off to Trongsa for several months until the situation in Gaselo calmed down. 

After several months, missing his wife and the newborn, Ap Naap returned to Wangdue from Trongsa. Not knowing that the family of late Raa-ju and his cronies were still waiting for revenge, he made his way to Gaselo before dusk. Late Raa-ju's men stoned him to death and his body was dumped into the Adrumi-tsho in Puna Tshang-chhu at present day Pey-ta Kar-bu. 

Adrumi Tsho

One account states that since theday Ap Naap was murdered at Adrumi Tsho, the family members of late Raa-ju died one after another. Some elderly folks say, late Raa-ju's family was cursed by Gasey Bumrip, the local deity known for justice. Bumrip is believed to be an emanation Yidam Tandin and Tandin is emanation of Chenrigzi. The other account states that the remaining family members fled to Bumthang to avoid taxes and punishments.